Machinists reject Boeing's 777X counteroffer

SEATTLE (AP) -- Machinists union leaders say the price of Boeing's counterproposal "was too high" in negotiations to keep much of the work on a new 777X jet in the Puget Sound region.

The president of Machinists Union District Lodge 751, Tom Wroblewski says the counteroffer was "mostly unchanged" from a proposal union members rejected last month by a 2-to-1 margin.

Boeing spokesman Doug Alder said the revised company proposal presented Thursday included previously proposed "changes to the way members earn future retirement benefits," meaning a defined-contribution plan. Boeing withdrew an earlier proposal to dramatically slow wage growth for new hires.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says despite the setback, he remains convinced an agreement between Boeing and the Machinists is in everyone's best interest. He says he'll continue to talk to both sides.